 Additional decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Silver Stars, two Bronze Star Medals for Valor, four Bronze Star Medals for Merit, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Air Medal with eight clusters, the Vietnamese National Order of Valor and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses.He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College.Following his retirement from the Army in 1973 at the rank of Brigadier General, James Shanahan settled in the Alexandria, Virginia area and became a real estate broker.